ORGANISERS of Singapore's first mass night-skating event are calling it off because of the rise in Influenza A (H1N1) cases here.

Ezyhealth City Skate 2009, which aimed to attract about 4,000 in-line skaters, was to be held on Orchard Road during the early hours of July 25, from midnight to 4am.

On Tuesday, the Health Ministry said there were 72 new confirmed H1N1 flu cases, raising the total to 701.

To date, 281 patients have fully recovered, and the rest are recuperating.

Eleven of the new cases were linked to Republic Polytechnic, which now has a total of 77 cases.

Last week, the poly asked 4,500 first year students and staff to stay home for seven days.

It said then that if the situation improves, those affected will return to school tomorrow.

Two other big clusters are at the Clementi army camp, with 55 cases, and popular nightclub The Butter Factory, with 42.

The camp had two new cases on Tuesday, while Butter Factory had one.

Given the situation, City Skate's organisers decided it was best to call off the event.

Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.